ANKARA - The Sixth European Union (EU) Adjustment Package was presented to Office of Parliament Speaker on Thursday.
In accordance with the bill comprised of 22 articles which foresees some amendments to several laws, state-owned and private radio and television channels can make broadcasting in different languages and dialects used traditionally in daily life by Turkish citizens.
The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) will prepare regulations on methods and principles of broadcasting in different languages and dialects.
Children cannot be named contrary to the ethical rules and in a way that will hurt the public opinion.
The bill abolishes the Article Eight of the Anti-Terrorism Law and excludes National Security Council (NSC) Secretariat General from the Cinema and Video Products Inspection Board.
The broadcasting ban of one week in election periods is narrowed by 24 hours before the election date.
In accordance with the bill, Higher Election Board (YSK) is authorized to determine the principles of the broadcastings of the private radio and television channels.
The bill says, ''YSK is authorized to monitor, control and evaluate whether or not the broadcastings of private radio and television channels operating throughout the country are in compliance with the above mentioned principles.''
Under the bill, the YSK warns the private radio and television channels broadcasting throughout the country which makes broadcasting contrary to the principles set by the YSK and to the article 55/A of this law and asks the channel to apologize on the air.
The YSK decides to stop the broadcasting of the private radio and televisions operating throughout the country between five and 15 days in case of the continuation of the contrary act and punish the responsible to pay fine between 10 and 85 billion Turkish liras (TL).
Observers of the international and regional organizations to which Turkey is a member of and the observers of the countries member to these organizations, and the observers of the international non-governmental organizations which are considered convenient by the government, can only monitor the elections in Turkey.
(To be continued)
(BRC-AÖ) 12.06.2003